LW Viper becomes LW Red TR

[LW VIPER]

Well, my new ride is certainly far slower than my Viper, but it is something that I've always had a fascination with. My 03 SRT is gone, and my 1988 Ferrari Testarossa, is having its 30,000 mile service done at 17,000 miles, and then I'll live out my fantasy until the repair bills make it no fun.

In the meantime the 12 cylinder engine makes some wonderful sounds, and I really enjoy the gated shifter for working at it

Interesting note for those of you complaining about the Tremec rear differential in the Vipers. My Ferrari mechanic told me that UNLIKE my Viper, I should NOT attempt to drag race anyone from a dead stop in the Testarossa, or I will break either a drive shaft or the transmission. Hammering to be done only from rolling starts. They also told me not to expect the Testarossa drive as much like a car as the Viper since things have changed in the past 17 years.

So, you will have no challenges from me on the streets. If I can't stand not having a convertible, I may be back. Regards to one and all.

 

[Vic]

Come back and share Testarossa stories with us!

Somehow, you will own a Viper again! I can sense it!

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

I guess you have all the seasons of Miami Vice on DVD!!!

 

[LW VIPER]

If I had them all I would have bought a 365 GTC Spyder back in the days they were affordable (that's the Ferrari that they blew up - actually a Corvette)

But yes, mine is the red version of the white Testarossa they used in that show. Frankly that was a better show than "Viper" was.

The Testarossa is the least expensive buy in to the flat 12 Boxer engine in the Ferrari that has decent ergonomics.

On a car against car basis, it will not hold a candle to any Viper, much less the SRT-10, or even the Vettes. More modern sports cars are better vehicles, and the Testarossa at 3600 pounds, 390 horsepower, 354 torque can't get near the 530 hp 550 torque my Viper was putting out in a 3400 lb vehicle. Plus the Viper is easier to drive.

But, in much the same way people are buying big engined Challengers (remember Vanishing Point?) COPO Camaros, 67 Vettes, or the old Austin Healeys or Jag XKEs, there is a nostalgia and fantasy for some of us older guys (I'm going on 56) surrounding Ferraris, and what they were in the old days of gated shifters, tough first to third gear changes, with the singing of a flat 12 behind your head (think DeTomaso Pantera with four more cylinders) that serves as a siren song.

I understand that owning a Ferrari for very long can turn into a frustrating and expensive experience, and I don't think it can be justified in any practical way. But this morning a friend of mine said he was selling his Camaro 350 convertible, and getting a Prius...........

I don't think I'm ready to be practical.... even in Supercars. But, as I said, I can see the day where I either miss the convertible so much, or tire of the repair bills so badly, that I will want a more "practical" supercar.

Certainly the Viper has filled that slot in my life, and while I only had my SRT-10 for a year and 4,000 miles, it truly is a marvelous beast, and I'm clear that owning another one would be terrific.

I'll drop back in with an actual compare and contrast once I've put a couple of thousand miles on the Testa, and I'll let you know if the reality ended up blending into the fantasy, or dashing it.

In the meantime, get Dodge to put some more juice into the SRTs so that the Vettes don't run away from them!!!!

 

[LW VIPER]

If I had them all I would have bought a 365 GTC Spyder back in the days they were affordable (that's the Ferrari that they blew up - actually a Corvette)

But yes, mine is the red version of the white Testarossa they used in that show. Frankly that was a better show than "Viper" was.

The Testarossa is the least expensive buy in to the flat 12 Boxer engine in the Ferrari that has decent ergonomics.

On a car against car basis, it will not hold a candle to any Viper, much less the SRT-10, or even the Vettes. More modern sports cars are better vehicles, and the Testarossa at 3600 pounds, 390 horsepower, 354 torque can't get near the 530 hp 550 torque my Viper was putting out in a 3400 lb vehicle. Plus the Viper is easier to drive.

But, in much the same way people are buying big engined Challengers (remember Vanishing Point?) COPO Camaros, 67 Vettes, or the old Austin Healeys or Jag XKEs, there is a nostalgia and fantasy for some of us older guys (I'm going on 56) surrounding Ferraris, and what they were in the old days of gated shifters, tough first to third gear changes, with the singing of a flat 12 behind your head (think DeTomaso Pantera with four more cylinders) that serves as a siren song.

I understand that owning a Ferrari for very long can turn into a frustrating and expensive experience, and I don't think it can be justified in any practical way. But this morning a friend of mine said he was selling his Camaro 350 convertible, and getting a Prius...........

I don't think I'm ready to be practical.... even in Supercars. But, as I said, I can see the day where I either miss the convertible so much, or tire of the repair bills so badly, that I will want a more "practical" supercar.

Certainly the Viper has filled that slot in my life, and while I only had my SRT-10 for a year and 4,000 miles, it truly is a marvelous beast, and I'm clear that owning another one would be terrific.

I'll drop back in with an actual compare and contrast once I've put a couple of thousand miles on the Testa, and I'll let you know if the reality ended up blending into the fantasy, or dashing it.

In the meantime, get Dodge to put some more juice into the SRTs so that the Vettes don't run away from them!!!!

 

[V10SpeedLuvr]

Post pics of your Testarossa! Kinda like Gen 1 and 2 Vipers, the design may be old, but its timeless!